De Blasio admits he lacks ability to ban carriages in NYC

By Christina Hansen on November 13, 2015 Controversy

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Christina Hansen

Christina Hansen is a New York City carriage driver and a spokesperson for the carriage industry. She is a proud member of Teamsters Local 553.

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Recent Posts
- February 5, 2018 1 Arthur and the Umbrella
- March 21, 2017 0 Public Voices for the New York City Carriage Horses
- March 14, 2017 14 What You Should Know About The NYC Carriage Horses
- March 14, 2017 1 The New York Times goes live from the hack stand
- February 28, 2017 14 Carriage horse trips, is uninjured – NYCLASS trips over truth in rush to judgment
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Save NYC Carriage Horses From Radical Animal Rights Activists
7 days ago
***ACTION ITEM*** Please e-mail your testimony in opposition of Intro 1425, the “NYC Horse Carriage 90 Degree Heat Index Suspension” bill before the city council hearing on June 18th! You can send the e-mail to hearings@council.nyc.gov & correspondence@council.nyc.gov for it to be added to the legislative record even if you can't attend the hearing in person.
It would also be helpful if you e-mailed each of the 51 council members from council.nyc.gov/districts/?fbclid=IwAR3ytCu849C-c0sq6qS5S5MxFUl-FpPNqEv3Af2hgjzcldeGRni1YqRzK6k (or called them in your spare time) and include ebalkan@council.nyc.gov & aslattery@council.nyc.gov with "opposition of intro 1425" in the subject line.

If you’re in town for the hearing, it would be great if you could attend and read your 2 minute testimony! The hearing starts at 10am, so it’s best to arrive by 8:30am before capacity is reached and NYCLASS holds their rally at 9am outside of city hall. The entrance of City Hall is located across the street from 250 Broadway in New York City.

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Four Important Points On Why This Bill Should Be Opposed:
*It’s a bill that is entirely unnecessary considering NYC carriage horses already have the lowest temperature restrictions in the country, not working above 89 degrees, and have not had a single heat related incident negatively impacting the horse’s health since that regulation went into effect.

*It’s a bill that would prevent NYC carriage horses from working much of the busy summer season, against equine expert opinions of how frequently the horses should be worked, which would also make it difficult for carriage drivers to cover the high cost of the their horses upkeep and make a living for themselves. Last summer carriage drivers would have lost nearly 55 full day shifts if the regulation were in effect as opposed to the 33 partial day shifts they lost under current regulations.

*It’s a bill that is ridiculously extreme based of the “real feel” temperature of human begins, without regard to what heat indexes equine experts recommend horses cease working. Cities that use a heat index to stop their carriage horses from work use much higher, more reasonable heat indexes, such as Charleston at 110 and equine experts only suggest a horse’s work load is lightened at heat indexes of 130-150 and would be dangerous at 180.

*It’s a ban bill in disguise. City council had no interest in doing away with the iconic horse drawn carriages of Central Park, but if this bill passes it could do just that down the line. It’s being pushed out by NYCLASS members who have no equine experience and are headed by real estate developer, Steve Nislick who has eyed the carriage stable properties for years. It only targets carriage horses and would not prevent police horses, parks dept horses, horses in the Central Park horse show, or service dogs from working.
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Legislation Details: legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3860318&GUID=13DA12A3-FDAA-4ED4-B102-9C6E3C19A...

More Details On Intro 1425: www.facebook.com/SaveNYCHorses/posts/2207624839294113?__tn__=K-R

Photo Credit: Christina Hansen Via www.instagram.com/nyccarriages ... See MoreSee Less
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Save NYC Carriage Horses From Radical Animal Rights Activists
2 weeks ago
*IMPORTANT* A hearing is being held by NYC council members at City Hall on Tuesday June 18th at 10am regarding intro 1425, the “NYC carriage horse 90 degree heat index suspension” bill we need opposed! If you can attend the hearing you will be able to speak for up to two minutes and it’s best to arrive as early as 8:30am to ensure you make it in before capacity is reached with NYCLASS members. The entrance is located across the street from 250 Broadway in New York City.
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Four Important Points On Why This Bill Should Be Opposed:
*It’s a bill that is entirely unnecessary considering NYC carriage horses already have the lowest temperature restrictions in the country, not working above 89 degrees, and have not had a single heat related incident negatively impacting the horse’s health since that regulation went into effect.

*It’s a bill that would prevent NYC carriage horses from working much of the busy summer season, against equine expert opinions of how frequently the horses should be worked, which would also make it difficult for carriage drivers to cover the high cost of the their horses upkeep and make a living for themselves. Last summer carriage drivers would have lost nearly 55 full day shifts if the regulation were in effect as opposed to the 33 partial day shifts they lost under current regulations.

*It’s a bill that is ridiculously extreme based of the “real feel” temperature of human begins, without regard to what heat indexes equine experts recommend horses cease working. Cities that use a heat index to stop their carriage horses from work use much higher, more reasonable heat indexes, such as Charleston at 110 and equine experts only suggest a horse’s work load is lightened at heat indexes of 130-150 and would be dangerous at 180.

*It’s a ban bill in disguise. City council had no interest in doing away with the iconic horse drawn carriages of Central Park, but if this bill passes it could do just that down the line. It’s being pushed out by NYCLASS members who have no equine experience and are headed by real estate developer, Steve Nislick who has eyed the carriage stable properties for years. It only targets carriage horses and would not prevent police horses, parks dept horses, horses in the Central Park horse show, or service dogs from working.
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If you cannot attend the hearing please call (or e-mail, though calls are better) all 51 NYC council members requesting that they stand against this bill: council.nyc.gov/districts/?fbclid=IwAR3ytCu849C-c0sq6qS5S5MxFUl-FpPNqEv3Af2hgjzcldeGRni1YqRzK6k
If you send an e-mail of written testimony please cc Emily Balkan, Policy Analyst for the Committee on Health at ebalkan@council.nyc.gov and Amy Slattery, CM Levine’s Legislative Director at aslattery@council.nyc.gov with “opposition of Intro 1425" in the subject line.

More Details On Intro 1425: www.facebook.com/SaveNYCHorses/posts/2207624839294113?__tn__=K-R

Details On Deceitful Video NYCLASS Uses To Propagate The Bill: www.facebook.com/SaveNYCHorses/posts/2340176452705617?__tn__=K-R

Legislation Details: legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3860318&GUID=13DA12A3-FDAA-4ED4-B102-9C6E3C19A...

Photo Credit: Christina Hansen Via www.instagram.com/nyccarriages (Carriage driver getting his horse used to the new water trough location.) ... See MoreSee Less
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Save NYC Carriage Horses From Radical Animal Rights Activists
1 month ago
NYCLASS's popular "horse in respiratory heat distress" propaganda video (found plastered around their pages) has been officially debunked and their motives behind the "NYC horse carriage heat index suspension" bill (intro 1425) have been revealed! A recent FOIL request was released which contained an e-mail from NYCLASS Executive Director, Edita Birnkrant to Mayor DeBlasio's office staff regarding a video she took of a horse she believed to be in "respiratory heat distress," while having no equestrian background. In the e-mail, she admits that she did not get the hoof number from the horse or license plate of the carriage because she was too distracted by the media. This means she either truly believed the horse's health was in danger and rather than calling the authorities, she cared more about her fame and furthering NYCLASS's agenda or that she knew this was not a major incident but intended on taking the video to use as propaganda from the beginning. In the e-mail, she also asks if the carriage horses can be suspended from work the following day before temperatures exceed their legal working limit of 89 degrees, which means she was fully aware of horse carriage regulations being followed when she falsely claimed laws had been broken to work the horse in the heat in her video. The investigative report released in the FOIL request confirms that the horse had no respiratory medical conditions. It also clarified the horse had just arrived at the hackline after a trot, which is why he was breathing heavier at that moment, as is normal in a horse and many other creatures after completing some kind of physical activity. The veterinarian's report also confirmed the horse had a regular temperature, heart, and respiratory rate and was cleared to continue working. Due to the complaint that was filed, an investigation had to be followed, unfortunately preventing the horse from working for two days and causing the owner to pay for an additional veterinary exam. Under normal circumstances it would be appreciated to ensure nothing is done against the welfare of a horse, but when you have people with zero equestrian knowledge making hyperbolic claims, it does seem the rules are being abused at the expense of the carriage horse industry.

So if facts are continuing to reveal no NYC carriage horse has ever been negatively impacted by the heat following their current regulations, why is NYCLASS still trying to use this video to pass such an extreme and unnecessary bill? The answer may be in a speech (www.facebook.com/seemancraig/videos/10157127222278373/) Edita gave at a recent animal rights rally. She begins by stating NYCLASS was founded to end horses from "suffering" by pulling carriages in NYC. This again makes it clear that “New Yorkers For Clean, Livable & Safe, Streets” was never formed for the purpose of cleaning up the streets, helping horses in need, or anything else on the animal rights agenda wish list, and rather only existed to function against the NYC carriage horse industry. It wasn’t until this had been exposed that their pages began to mention other animal rights issues in a guise to poorly legitimize their organization, still headed by real estate tycoon, Steve Nislick (who had eyed the NYC carriage horse stable properties for some time.) Edita goes on to refer to intro 1425 as "one more thing we can do to help these horses and continue on that road towards the ultimate goal." The logical conclusion to the “ultimate goal” she speaks about can only be an end of the horse carriage industry in NYC. Facebook comment screenshots (www.facebook.com/SaveNYCHorses/posts/2225628524160411?__tn__=K-R) also reveal NYCLASS members confirming their pushes for more regulation of NYC horse carriages (which already has more regulation than any other industry of it’s kind in the country) is to drive them out of business by limiting the amount of locations they can pick up rides, making them less visible to tourists at night, and cutting down the amount of days they can work in the busy summer season. While many council members have already dropped their sponsorship of intro 1425 since the are supportive of the carriage horse industry and the great care they take of their horses, we need to ensure that trend continues. Please continue to ask NYC council members to oppose this carriage ban bill in disguise and don't be fooled by NYCLASS any longer! More information on intro 1425 can be found here- www.facebook.com/SaveNYCHorses/posts/2207624839294113?__tn__=K-R ... See MoreSee Less
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Save NYC Carriage Horses From Radical Animal Rights Activists
3 months ago
***ACTION ITEM*** Today we’re asking that you contact NYC Council Member Carlos Menchaca to ask that he oppose intro 1425 “NYC carriage horse 90 degree heat index suspension” bill! You can speak to him as a constituent in NYC, or tourist or equestrian from anywhere else. Phone calls are best but you can e-mail him as well. We love all your comments on this page, but it’s NYC council members that need to hear them if we have any chance of stopping this bill! Please share this post as well.

Call: 718-439-9012
E-mail: info38@council.nyc.gov

Speaking Points:
*The bill is excessive and unnecessary! Equine experts estimate horses are good to work at heat indexes of 110-120, have light work at 130-150, and would be dangerous to be out at 180. No carriage industry uses a heat index that low. (Charleston uses 95 degrees and heat index of 110.) Under this bill horses could be suspended from work at 79 degrees when it’s lightly raining.

*There is no cause to make these changes! The current regulations of suspending carriage operations at 90 degrees are already the lowest in the country and work because not one NYC carriage horse has collapsed, had respiratory issues, or any negative impact on their health due to heat related issues which equine vets that examine them have confirmed.

*The bill causes a great business loss! Carriage drivers were sent in due to heat suspensions 33 times last summer with the day shift being able to complete a couple rides before temperatures rose later in the day on most days. Under this bill they would have been sent in 55 times without the day shift operating at all most of those days. This will financially cripple drivers who rely on that income for their family and the costly upkeep of their horses. It will also hurt tourism as many people take carriage rides in the busy summer season when children are out of school.

*It’s a corrupt carriage horse ban bill in disguise! This bill is being pushed out by NYCLASS who doesn’t have a single equestrian on their team and is backed by a small animal vet with no experience working on large animals. After failing to ban the industry when city council had no desire to because 61-67% of New Yorkers were against it in Quinnipiac polls for a year straight, NYCLASS is now attempting to regulate it out of business instead. It’s just another step they’re taking on top of using the D.O.T. to move the carriage hackline into Central Park where they are not visible to most walk-up rides while ignoring horse welfare by forcing them to stand on hills when they should be resting between rides on flat ground.

More Info On Intro 1425: www.facebook.com/SaveNYCHorses/posts/2207624839294113?__tn__=K-R

If you have the time please contact all 51 council members, especially these that have co-sponsored intro 1425 as well: Keith Powers (head sponsor), Mark Levine, Robert Holden, Ritchie J. Torres, Margaret Chin, Kalman Yeger, Jumaane Williams, Mark Gjonaj, Mathieu Eugene, Donovan Richards, Helen Rosenthal, Diana Ayala, Inez Barron, Carolina Rivera, Alicka Ampry-Samuel
council.nyc.gov/districts ... See MoreSee Less
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Save NYC Carriage Horses From Radical Animal Rights Activists
3 months ago
***ACTION ITEM*** Today we’re asking that you contact NYC Council Member Justin Brannan to ask that he oppose intro 1425 “NYC carriage horse 90 degree heat index suspension” bill! You can speak to him as a constituent in NYC, or tourist or equestrian from anywhere else. Phone calls are best but you can e-mail him as well. We love all your comments on this page, but it’s NYC council members that need to hear them if we have any chance of stopping this bill! Please share this post as well.

Call: 718-748-5200 or 212-788-7363
E-mail: AskJB@council.nyc.gov

Speaking Points:
*The bill is excessive and unnecessary! Equine experts estimate horses are good to work at heat indexes of 110-120, have light work at 130-150, and would be dangerous to be out at 180. No carriage industry uses a heat index that low. (Charleston uses 95 degrees and heat index of 110.) Under this bill horses could be suspended from work at 79 degrees when it’s lightly raining.

*There is no cause to make these changes! The current regulations of suspending carriage operations at 90 degrees are already the lowest in the country and work because not one NYC carriage horse has collapsed, had respiratory issues, or any negative impact on their health due to heat related issues which equine vets that examine them have confirmed.

*The bill causes a great business loss! Carriage drivers were sent in due to heat suspensions 33 times last summer with the day shift being able to complete a couple rides before temperatures rose later in the day on most days. Under this bill they would have been sent in 55 times without the day shift operating at all most of those days. This will financially cripple drivers who rely on that income for their family and the costly upkeep of their horses. It will also hurt tourism as many people take carriage rides in the busy summer season when children are out of school.

*It’s a corrupt carriage horse ban bill in disguise! This bill is being pushed out by NYCLASS who doesn’t have a single equestrian on their team and is backed by a small animal vet with no experience working on large animals. After failing to ban the industry when city council had no desire to because 61-67% of New Yorkers were against it in Quinnipiac polls for a year straight, NYCLASS is now attempting to regulate it out of business instead. It’s just another step they’re taking on top of using the D.O.T. to move the carriage hackline into Central Park where they are not visible to most walk-up rides while ignoring horse welfare by forcing them to stand on hills when they should be resting between rides on flat ground.

More Info On Intro 1425: www.facebook.com/SaveNYCHorses/posts/2207624839294113?__tn__=K-R

If you have the time please contact all 51 council members, especially these that have co-sponsored intro 1425 as well: Keith Powers (head sponsor), Mark Levine, Robert Holden, Ritchie J. Torres, Margaret Chin, Kalman Yeger, Jumaane Williams, Mark Gjonaj, Mathieu Eugene, Donovan Richards, Helen Rosenthal, Diana Ayala, Inez Barron, Carolina Rivera, Alicka Ampry-Samuel
council.nyc.gov/districts ... See MoreSee Less
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